Determination of volatile compounds in tobacco essential oil by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometer

An important sample of tobacco essential oil was characterized using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC x GC/TOFMS). Since the majority of components in essential oil are polar compounds, a polar column was selected as the first column and a medium-polar column as the second column in order to improve the separation. In total, 84 compounds were identified, with similarity and reverse number over 800 and 900, respectively (in the same separation condition, only 21 compounds were identified using GC/MS). In addition, the identified compounds were quantified using GC x GC/flame ionizaiton deteciton and multiple internal standards method. The results disclose the relationship between components and the aroma of essential oil